This year's playoffs have been one for the ages. With the conclusion of the semi-finals last night we've seen some real oddities. Both losing goaltenders are Vezina trophy finalists. Both were younger goaltenders (Andrei Vasilevskiy (limited playoff experience), Tampa & Connor Hellebuyck, (no playoff experience) Winnipeg. But, both highly touted to take their respective teams through. And, both losing teams in the semi-finals (Winnipeg & Tampa) were likely picked by most to move on (and who would have predicted Las Vegas & Washington to be in the Stanley Cup finals). I am not going to comment here on the play of either goaltender or whether they were a factor in their team losing.

But, the lesson here is that things don't always work out as predicted or planned and that we, as goaltenders, should never lose sight of this. Hockey is at best, unpredictable. And, we need to be able to deal with it. Many of the articles I have written throughout the past season have covered the uncertainty of the position and how we should approach it. Hopefully, you've all been able to gain some insights from those articles that you can use in your goaltending travels.

As an added point to the oddities of the game, after having no shutouts in the regular season and starting the playoffs as a BACKUP, Braden Holtby recorded back-to-back shutouts in do-or-die games to propel the Capitals into the Stanley Cup Final. It shows we can never tell what the future will bring. So just hold on to your dreams, work diligently & with motivation and never give up.

You always perform at your best when your mind is calm and free of distractions. A calm mind allows you to focus and react smoothly to what is happening around you.

The opposite of that of course is a mind filled with thoughts with one competing with one other for attention and giving off different signals. That causes indecision. So now, that low shot to the blocker side that you normally handle with ease becomes a challenge. Should I angle the puck to the corner, try to stop and cover it or???? Your body becomes tight and your right arm (or left if you are left-handed) refuses to move at the same speed it normally does, the puck slips through and the red light flashes!

Generally, there are two major elements that cause indecisiveness.

I think a lot has to do with trying to do things perfectly (take it from a former perfectionist) You put so much focus on the "how to" or the technical part of the action that you tend to neglect the fact that the outcome is what is really important......STOP THE PUCK!

Another cause might be thinking too far ahead. You worry about the final score and forget to live and act in the moment. So, throughout the game, your mind wanders to the outcome at the neglect of the present.

If you find this happening to you you might try these couple of tips to help you:

1.Don't second guess yourself....stick with your "A" plan. (generally your first thought is the best one)

2.Trust what got you to where you are. Trust that all your training and hard work will see you through even though you might encounter rough patches. Don't worry about being perfect. The minute you start questioning your abilities you are at a disadvantage.

Much of the off-season focus should really be on the physical plus time (refer to our e-mail from last week) taken for technical development and improvement. This will still leave you plenty of time to play golf, tennis, or some other sport as a non-competitive activity.

So, here is what a potential training period could look like. The number of training days per week will be determined by the program/trainer.

May 1 to the middle of August if you are Professional, University or Junior (approximately 16 weeks) May 1 to the middle of August if you are Midget, High School, Bantam or Prep School (approximately 12 weeks) June 1 to the middle of August if you are younger (approximately 10 weeks)

Among other things, here is a short list of some basic elements you need to key in on during "The Most Important Season".

Leg & Lower Body Strength & Power Gives you explosive starts, sharp stops, hard slides & pushes. Allows for smooth transition from skates to pads & pads to skates and from side to slide in a lateral slide

Core Strength: Gives you well developed abdominals, oblique & back muscles for smooth, quick, efficient movement in & around the net. (Core muscles are first to contract when we initiate goaltending movements)

Quick Feet: Allows for speed of foot movement in and around the crease for single or multiple directional changes or save sequences

Flexibility Gives you the ability to initiate movement outside the normal range of motion; especially useful in scramble situations or when caught out of position

High Fitness (Cardio) Level: Gives you great anaerobic capacity and all-round conditioning

Hand/Eye Coordination & vision training: Gives you the ability to co-ordinate limb movement to intercept the path of the puck effectively on every shot

For most of you, the 2017 – 18 hockey season will wind down over the next couple of weeks. Whatever else you do, make sure you take a little time to stop competing and relax.If you are a younger goaltender, you may choose to play “spring hockey” before shutting down while others will gravitate to another sport immediately after season. However, whatever you chose to do make sure you play an alternative sport(s) during the off season. Try to pick a sport that will help you develop your overall athletic skills which, will, in turn help you to become a better goaltender. (tennis, volleyball, soccer are among the better)But, if you play at a competitive or developmental level, you may also want to devote time this next month to plan your strategy for improvement throughout the summer with your parents or a trusted coach. At this moment next season’s tryouts might be the furthest from your mind, but, trust me, they will be here before you know it. So, prepare early and prepare well.

Our view, however, is that the off-season really should be renamed "The Most Important Season"Why? Because it can't be time "off", in the literal sense, if you play at a developmental/competitive in Minor Hockey or Junior or above.

Here you have an opportunity to retool, refine and develop your physical tools, mental skills and, at the same time, make corrections to your on-ice game with goaltender specific training at a camp or clinics.

Most definitely, you need to keep your skates on the ice a minimum number of times during "The Most Important Season". But, don't associate playing "pick up hockey" with improving your game. I can say the same for programs which are not goaltender specific. Both might develop your compete level (or not) but do little to nothing to develop your technical skills.And, for the most part both these expose you to many situations you will never find in a team game. Pick up hockey is strictly for FUN and a bit of socializing.

If you are serious about your development, we strongly recommend you take part in an on ice weekly structured development programduring June & July.Add a week long professional training camp and you have your goaltending on ice specific training covered off during those 2 months.That leaves you time prior to and after this training period to do other things (and maybe even play some pick-up hockey).

Approximately 2 months should be quite adequate for you to refine, develop new skills or make changes to your technical game

A couple of weeks ago we talked about "net presence" and the impressions goaltenders give by their on ice demeanour. And, there, we offered up a couple to tips as to how you might check on your own "net presence".

Today we are going to take a quick look at a couple of ways you might differentiate yourself from other goaltenders in your league/division and stand out from the crowd. Here it is worth repeating the comment often heard from recruiters and scouts...."at some point in time, they all look the same". So, here are just a couple of things to help you NOT "look the same".

Work at becoming a better all round athlete - most pro goaltenders today are excellent athletes and some such as MA Fleury, Jake Allen, Jonathan Quick & Pekka Renne are exceptional. Being a better athlete will also enhance your ability to execute technical skillsBecome better at puck handling - a goaltender who can handle wide rims and dump-in shots and make passes efficiently are worth their weight in gold and are a coach's dream

Battle harder - put 100% effort into covering every loose puck; make the impossible save at least once per game

Calm & focused - remain calm and focused when confronted with adversity or when things become chaotic. No emotional ups & downs

Develop your consistency- attempt to keep your play consistent throughout the entire game and from game to game. Coaches/recruiters like to know what to expect

Continue to develop all the position's fundamental skills - a solid base of fundamental skills is a pre-requisite for top performance

Some time ago I did a short survey with a goaltending coach who had worked at a Midget AAA, Junior A and University level & also, a goaltender (not from the same team) who had played through each of these levels. My intent was to attempt to get a perspective, outside of my own, on some of the major skills & attributes necessary to play "up" at each level. My question was, "list 5 - 6 things you feel a goaltender must have or develop as they move up those three levels.

Here are their responses: (Coach Perspective)

- need to develop their anticipation of play in the defensive zone- ability to recognize and be able to react to opposition systems such as (PP) zone entries etc.- excellent rebound control- ability to find loose pucks in traffic (the amount of front net traffic increases as you move up each level)- the physical strength to handle traffic to fight for loose pucks when play is in tight to the net (not only is there more front net traffic, but the players get bigger as you move up each level)

(A goaltender's perspective)

- able to balance (time management) all facets of their life- keep the different aspects of their life separate (hockey time is hockey time, study time is study time, off ice training time is off ice training time etc)- confidence in their skills (confident that all the work & practice will make for a successful transition to the game)- a short memory (live the game in the present)- deep motivation to succeed - knows game time is battle time

I think you can see, from the responses, there are some key things you need to understand about moving from level to level. One thing, I would like to add is "SPEED". Everything gets faster moving from level to playing level...shots travel faster, passes are quicker, players skate faster, plays happen faster. The whole game moves faster.

And to quote the goaltender who helped me out, "many times, especially at the start of your first season at a higher level, it is as much about being able to "keep it all together" as it is about how well you stop a puck"

A recent conversation with one of our long-time clients prompted me to dig this out of my files and share it with all of you. The conversation cantered around having a different goaltending coach from the previous year and that coach looking to make some changes to his play.

Mostly, I think this happens simply because each goalie coach has his/her own perception of what is technically correct or how a goaltender should approach/react to game situations. And I suspect, this is not uncommon.

From our (Alexander Goaltending) perspective once you go beyond the basic foundational technical skill, there may be more than one option to achieve similar results. Providing, of course, in all instances, that the results are positive. It doesn't necessarily mean one is right & and the other is wrong. However, as a coach we need to understand, that because every goalie has different mental & physical attributes (size, speed, strength and so on), what will work for one goaltender may not necessarily work for another. It is the coach's responsibility to make the best use of those attributes the goaltender already has.

We, as professional coaches, are entrusted, among other things, to teach the technical skills of the position. Just as important is to ensure our students understand why we suggest a particular method. Simply put, we are providing a goaltender a tool for his/her "toolbox". Hopefully they realize the benefit, but, how and if they use it is always their choice. As long as, whatever they choose allows them to perform at the highest and most efficient level given their particular technical, physical and mental skills.

If you do find yourself in a situation where you are being asked to do something goaltending related that you feel uncomfortable doing, you need to open a dialogue with the coach to try and understand where the issue is. Hopefully he/she is not looking to make changes just for the sake of change. The role of the goalie coach is really all about developing and improving skills, analysing performance and solving performance problems.

If a change is being recommended to how you are presently doing something, the question here should be "WHY”? Why change? Is what I am doing holding back my development? Is my action (or non-action) causing goals? How will it improve my performance? I am sure the competent coach will be able to show you how this change will/could work to your advantage and help you move forward to improve.

At the same time, however, we do feel it is incumbent upon the goaltender to, at the very least, give something new a try. Not to do so might be depriving him/her of an opportunity to make a change that improves and/or develops his/her game beyond where it is presently.

A very high profile national level coach once told me a good coach should always be able to answer the "WHY" question with a positive reply and back up their answer with examples or results.

Note: Research shows it takes between 300 - 500 repetitions to gain competency (many more to be proficient) in a motor skill (trapper save) and 3000 - 5000 repetitions to correct a poor/incorrect muscle motor pattern (need to un-learn and then re-learn).

Because we try to support our student/clients at and away from the rink, we like to stay in touch with both they and parents as frequently as we can.

Some (just a few), hold a belief it is important for their son/daughter to play up beyond their present skill/age level in order for them to achieve long term success. They feel, that, if they don’t, their son/daughter will never reach their (?) goals. I find this to be a bit unrealistic. Simply because, everyone will develop at their own pace. As a parent, all you can really do is provide your son/daughter the opportunity to play, expose them to the best QUALITY training available, (notice the emphasis on quality) encourage them and support them.

Everyone has a different development curve which is based on several factors of which some are controllable and some not. We will always have those few (very few) who are ahead of the normal curve, the average (a majority) and, of course, the “late bloomer” (very few). And, no amount of wishful thinking will propel any of them beyond what they are physically and mentally capable of achieving.

When your son/daughter is younger, it is easy to get caught up in the allure of skipping a step & jumping up to a level beyond their age group in the hope they will develop faster and quicker. And, even at higher levels (Junior & above) the same idea exists. I must admit, I may have been one of those people. Even today, I look at some of our student/clients and wonder if their development would not be better served by playing up. But………

REALITY CHECK HERE! There really isn’t anything wrong with “testing the waters”. Say trying out for a team (if you are able) that competes above your son/daughter’s present playing level. But, unless your son/daughter is very mature & can be certain they will see enough “net time” (nothing erodes confidence more than sitting at the end of a bench game after game) to develop & improve their game skills, they are much better off “staying the course”.

Here are a couple of reasons to “stay the course”: - it allows them an opportunity to experience growth as a player- it gives them more time to develop their skills because they are not always trying to play “catch up” with stronger, more experienced & older kids & team mates- different social dynamics will come into play at the next level- they might be looked to for a leadership role which, in turn helps them develop as a person- it could serve to build their mental toughness & character because they could become (if not already) the “go to guy or gal” who logs all the hard minutes in tough times

IT’S ALL ABOUT PATIENCE

It is my belief (as a coach and long-time scout) that if you are good enough, you will be “found”. No matter how deeply a goaltender is “buried” they will hear of you and find you. I do understand the concept of “timing” also enters the picture, but, have the patience to continue to work smart & hard; search out & use every resource possible to improve ALL aspects of your game; refine your skills to perfection. And, hopefully you will become the best goaltender you can possibly be at the level you are supposed to be. And, who knows where that will lead.

I know that not everyone will agree with me simply because, unless you have experienced it, it is difficult not to look for the “silver bullet” that gets you on the fast track. Unfortunately, very, very few who ever get on the “fast track” train will ride it all the way to the station.

Perhaps some of you have heard the saying “the devil is in the details”. (meaning something that is taken to be simple will require more effort and time than expected or inattention to details will cause failure or small things, thought to be insignificant can cause serious problems)

How true in goaltending. Because successful goaltending is all about the “details” and far too often I see goaltenders neglect them. The result of inattention to details is to forgo long term success for the sake of a few moments of glory.

So, what are these dang details? Well, by this time I’m betting you are thinking they are all about those technical skills that are part of the goaltender’s tool box. True, but only partially true.

Details are in your training on and off ice. That last rep doesn’t matter. I’ll just to 9. After all, is there any real difference between 9 & 10. Yeah, I can skip this workout and take in a movie with my buddies. After all I’ve already trained once this week. Don’t want to tire myself out too badly, plus I can make up the work out next week. Stopping a little before the blue line won’t hurt anything, and I’ll get through the drill and get back before the other guy. That’ll impress coach for sure.

Details are in your nutrition. What’s a plate of “fries” before my game going to hurt anyway? So, what if I skip a meal here and there, I can still perform at peak whenever I want to.

Details are in personal habits. Hey, 11 pm or midnight, what’s the big deal? I’ll can perform just as well with 6 hours sleep as 9. Nothing wrong with a little road hockey before practice is there. Or a spin on the “quad” or snow machine on game day.

Details in technical skills. My skated blade doesn’t have to be on the post every time I t-push back from the top of the crease, does it? What if I don’t track puck carries behind the net. I’m fast enough to get to that pass out. What’s up with check the net front when the puck is below the goal line. I can’t see where it serves any purpose. And, keeping my stick blade in position to cover the 5-hole in a lateral slide. I’ve never done that and can’t see any reason to start now because I’m doing ok.

These, folks, are just a small sample of the day to day details that are part of the making of an above average goaltender.

Yes, the attention to details require discipline. But, understand that, from attention to details (or not), you develop habits whether good or bad. And that strong, good habits formed from mindful attention to details are the foundation of a successful, elite goaltender.

The world of a goaltender can be harsh at times. It's no fun being on the long end of 10 - 1 loss or a 7-game losing streak. Those can really test your "mental toughness". Besides everything else it's embarrassing and, no doubt, a jolt to the ego.

So, let's look at somethings you might do to get a bit of your that "mental strength" back after you get knocked down.

Don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Really, self-pity is not going to get you anywhere. And don't look for anyone else to sympathize with you (except maybe your family) or a very close friend or coach. Don't continue to focus on the problem....what you need is a solution.

Maybe what you need is to just get back to basics. All the good things you did that got you to where you are.

Maybe what you need is a change. A change in your routine; a change in ATTITUDE. Whatever. Change is not necessarily bad. To be a successful as a goaltender you must be able to adapt.

Different year, different team? New challenges for sure. Are they going to adapt to the way you play? Maybe not. Maybe you must make some small adjustment to your game. If the game has changed are you changing with it? Are you willing to change?

Don't get all out of whack about things you can't control. If you can't control it, you need to let it go and move on. What you coach does, how your team plays in front of you, the calls the referees make. You cannot control any of that. So, discover what you can control (habits, choices) and spend your good time making sure those are right.

Stop worrying about everyone else thinks. (something else you can't control) At times, you just have to simply do some things that others don't like. They'll get over it.

Doing the same thing day after day and expecting different results does not make a lot of sense. Don't repeat your mistakes. Learn from them, "park" them and make a change.

Don't expect immediate results. Everything takes time. Your development as a Goaltending and likewise developing mental toughness is a process. It doesn't happen in a week, a month, or a year. YOU NEED TO WORK ON BOTH!

Don't get frustrated because you aren't where you think you should be. Understand where you are at this moment and then plan and work the plan diligently to get where you want to be. Get help with your plan. Going it alone makes for a tough journey.

At the end of it all, nobody owes you (or me) anything. Sure, we might not think it is fair, but, it is what it is. Make the best of it. Give what you have everyday and don't dwell on what you think you deserve.

(as a side note, I recently read the book "GRIT" by Angela Duckworth. Her many years of research (and of others as well) lead to a proven conclusion that "grit" or mental toughness is the main contributing factor to success)

Recently I spent a bit of time with my son who works with the Blues in St. Louis. And, fortunately I was able to take in a couple of NHL games plus spend some time around the rink.

It’s been a few years since I saw a live game and it didn’t disappoint.Not surprisingly, today’s game is incredibly fast.Speed of puck movement, shot speed & accuracy are all at the highest level.However, what impressed me most was how quickly players & goaltenders make decisions and choose between the available options.

I’m sure some of what I saw is a product of the player’s individual experiences moving up through the hockey system, but you must believe that the majority of what we see is a direct result of an incredible amount of time spent practicing their skills, off season training, hard work and time management.And, this applies not only to reaching the NHL but also to staying there.

On the trip back home, I mused about what I had seen and wondered what the impact would be if every goaltender could see what goes into a “day at the office” for a professional goaltender.How many would commit, and dedicate the time & resources necessary to become the best they could given any physical limitations.

Understand, hockey must and should always be fun and up to the point of a goaltender’s teen age years. Throughout those times, it’s all about developing the basic physical and mental skill requirements of the position. But, at some point after, things need to change (the fun still needs to remain though) for anyone who aspires to play at the highest level they can.

However, after all my years of working with goaltenders, it totally amazes me the numbers that appear to have absolutely no idea what it takes to be an elite athlete, and, more importantly, who don’t take the initiative to research & understand how to become one.

When you consider we live in the information age, it’s really no ones’ fault but theirs.Perhaps they are just among the “want to; would like to; wish I could” group. Or perhaps they just “follow the crowd” thinking that, if everybody else is doing it, it must be right.Still, it disturbs me to see the talent wasted needlessly.

I say, take responsibility for your development! Carve your own path! Lead the way!

At about this time I can hear people saying how much you will need to “sacrifice”. And I remember using that word in my last e-mail. But on reflection, I now believe this word is totally overused when it comes to explaining what is necessary to become an elite or above average athlete.“You need to sacrifice to be the best” is absurd.It is only a “sacrifice” if you are giving up something and are not completely committed to the task. There isn’t any “sacrifice” involved if you make a choice about what you want to do and ‘go for it”.

At the end of the day, our choices define us and ultimately will determine the level to which we will rise. MAKE GOOD CHOICES!

As we enter the first couple of weeks of hockey season, and now reflecting back on the tryout period prior to the season, it has probably been a stressful time for a lot goalies (and parents too)

And, I am sure, some of you didn't make the team you tried out for. Believe me I've have personally experienced being cut and, recalling those days, it wasn't the most pleasant of times. So, I thought I would pass on a little advice which I hope will help out a bit.

I know the first question that comes to mind, when it happens, is WHY? Truth is, sometimes, it doesn't make a lot of sense, even when you get the answer. Maybe it was just that the competition was really tough (a lot of exceptionally good goalies in your age group) or you didn't perform up to the expectation of the coaches or your skills were lacking. Or maybe, "politics" came into play. Maybe it was your demeanour, how you presented yourself in the net, your size or the coach just felt more comfortable (confident) with other guy (or girl) Whatever the reason, you have to move on. You can't hang on to the thought that the coach didn't like you or they didn't see you at your best or because you allowed fewer goals than the other goalie(s) you should have been selected.

Understand, that, unless we do fail from time to time, we will never become the best we can be. Most top end athletes (goaltenders) will tell you that fear of failing is what has driven them to become successful. And, they learned from the failing experience because they were able to "move on", understand their deficiencies, and vowed to work diligently on those to make the necessary corrections and improve. And so, failing is a necessary part to improving your game.

So, what are YOU going to do about it. The first thing you need to do is take an honest look at your game and identify the parts that need to be improved . If you feel the need for outside help to do this, enlist a trusted coach to sit with you to make the review. Just remember, if he/she are being honest, you may hear things you don't want to hear. However, if you REALLY want to get better, then the need for honesty. During the review, identify 3 or 4 areas for improvement, put those into writing plus what you want to accomplish for each and how you plan to do it. Again I highly recommend you enlist the help of a coach or your parents in the plan. But remember it's YOUR plan and not the responsibility of Mom or Dad or a coach to lead you along. They can help set you off in the right direction, but the ball (puck) is in your court when it comes to providing the motivation, dedication & hard work.

If you truly WANT (not wish, like to, would be nice) to be a top end, above average or elite goaltender then it is YOURRESPONSIBILITY to put in the work, provide the motivation and MAKE THE SACRIFICES necessary No one else can do it for you!

Some time ago I happened upon an interview with the “mental skills coach” of the New Zealand “All Blacks” famous rugby team.

The article begins with the headline “Make Mental Strength Your Strongest Skill”. In the article, he attributes the team’s phenomenal success, for the most part, to each individual’s “mental toughness”. Understand that the “All Blacks” are a premier professional team (and so not unusual to find a “mental skills coach” as part of their staff). But, when you think of the disproportionate amount of the time & effort we, as coaches, put into physical skill & technical development versus the time, on average, a goalie spends developing his/her mental skills it is easy it is to understand why many a goaltender can go through extended periods of time playing well below their capabilities if these skills are not developed. I am not saying that better mental skill training and mental toughness is the answer to every goaltender’s performance issues, but, when you think of the number of above average skilled goaltenders who have never developed to their full potential because of lack of mental skills it is easy to understand how important these skills are for success.

The position of goaltender, has some unique pressures which very few, if any, who have not played the position fully understand or appreciate. It is really the weight of expectations. And is it a very, very heavy load. But, fortunately, one that most goaltenders enjoy having the opportunity to play such an important role in the success of their team.

So, what really is “mental toughness”. Mental toughness is described in the following as the capacity of an individual to deal effectively with stressors, pressures and challenges, and perform to the best of their ability, irrespective of the circumstances in which they find themselves.

Mental toughness is not something that everyone is born with. It is developed over time and through experiences. It is understanding that one must “stay the course”. Giving in is not an option. It is understanding what the reality of the situation is and exactly what your job is. It is maintaining focus and dealing with one moment one after another & not getting ahead of yourself spending precious time & energy thinking of consequences.

In the “heat of battle” here are some quick things we can do when our “Mental Toughness” is challenged

Let go of the miscue/distraction and stay in the present (park it!)

Take a deep breath, relax your body part by part (I'm not one much for the "water bottle squirt" bit) and reset by recapping in your mind what happened and how you might have prevented it from happening (or not)

Eliminate any negative thoughts & focus on the present

So how do we develop “Mental Toughness”

Well the first thing we need to do when we are faced with adversity is understand that by facing and accepting the challenge head on, we are strengthening our coping habit & developing mental toughness and our ability to deal with future adversity and, at the same time, develop our resiliency

Secondly, we need to just “get over it” and focus on the next challenge

And, thirdly, understand what we need to do in a physical sense & mental sense to meet those future challenges

I am often asked; “What does it take to become a successful, top performing goaltender?” Usually my first response is TIME, LOTS OF HARD WORK, PROFESSIONAL COACHING & LUCK followed by “the list is quite long, where would you like me to start?” Sometimes the conversation ends there but not always. Unfortunately, parents and goalies today expect immediate success & results. It just doesn’t happen.

Here are SOME of the physical & intangible elements that go into a top performing goaltender from my perspective.

Physical Elements

Speed & Agility - ability to start & stop, change direction & shift momentum all while maintaining good balanceLeg & Lower Body Strength & Power - explosive starts, sharp stops, hard slides & pushes. Allows for smooth transition and body control from skates to pads & pads to skates and from side to slide in a lateral movementsCore Strength - well developed abdominals, oblique & back muscles for smooth, quick, efficient movement in & around the net. (Core muscles are the first to be activated when we initiate goaltending movements)Quick Feet - speed of foot movement in and around the crease for single or multiple directional changes or save sequencesFlexibility - the ability to initiate movement outside the normal range of motion; especially useful in scramble situations or when caught out of positionHigh Fitness (Cardio) Level – above average anaerobic capacity and all round conditioningHand/Eye Coordination & great vision - ability to track pucks, read the shot release and co-ordinate limb & body movements to intercept the path of the puck effectively on every shot

Intangible Elements

Passion - a burning desire to be best you can be and have fun doing itCompetitiveness - a willingness to compete hard to stop every shot every time you step on the ice Mental toughness - able to handle the pressure of the position and the game, the ups and downs of sport, fatigue and injuryWork Ethic - willing to work hard at practice, and in games as well as in the off season to further develop skills and improve strength and conditioningCharacter - a positive attitude on and off the ice; a team player; accepts responsibility without placing blame; uncompromising integrityStudent of the Game - observes, asks questions and constantly strives to understand the elements of the position and the game Ability to Adjust - able to make modifications to their game when necessary; a simple adjustment during a game or a long term commitment to change style or adapt to a new method in goaltendingConcentration - able to focus on what needs to be done and going out and doing itFocus - able to "zone in" on the puck and find it through traffic under all types of circumstances; able to read plays and the puck off the stickPreparation - understanding that good game preparation cannot be substituted; develops a pre-game routine that enables them to maintain a high level of confidence and game focusResiliency – that “bounce back” ability after a bad game or goalHabits – personal home & off ice habits that contribute positively to all these intangibles

Just found this article in my "e-news" this morning & thought it would bear repeating. I am not sure if I wrote this. Unfortunately, if not, I have been unable to find the author. So, for the moment, let's go with "Author Unknown" and if he/she turns up, proper credit will be given.

I have to say, after over 20 year of watching, coaching and involved the the sport of hockey, I am convinced that this article is "bang on". For the most part goaltenders on Spring Teams are left to their own devices relative to any type of goaltending specific coaching during the "Spring Hockey Season" (which could consist of anywhere from 6 - 8 weeks of practices & tournaments). I don't have any first hand experience of this, but I am told that goalies pay the same as any other player while sharing tournament games with a partner. And lastly, let's not make any mistake here, the goal is "WINNING". So, if one goaltender has even marginally better skills than his partner, who do you think will play the majority of important games in tournament play?

"As hockey has become a year round sport there has been much speculation that we are not developing well-rounded athletes and sport specific training and competition needs to be balanced. The theory is that a better athlete will make a better goalie down the road. Goalies sometimes have a large number of off-season tournaments to participate in that are exposure driven and goalies as well as parents feel compelled to participate because of the potential to be "seen". But, on the other hand, the number of tournaments has grown dramatically lately and many feel the cost of participating and the time involved is not a positive trend.

There is a clear distinction between training and competition. Training programs offer goalies the tools to become better while exposure tournaments only give them the forum to demonstrate their skill. Unfortunately, there is a distinct trend toward the latter and it is not only cutting into participation in other sporting activities but also the opportunity to develop better skills and all round athleticism.

Many top end coaches from the professional ranks are recommending that all Minor Hockey players compete in other sports and are urging them to put the skates away to play lacrosse, tennis and soccer instead of going on the spring and summer “tournament circuit”. Of course the risk of following this advice is the multi-sport athlete who ends up underexposed and slipping through the cracks.But, at the end of the day, with so many scouts & recruiters looking for talent, if you are deserved, they will find you."

This is the time of the year (mid-season) when most goaltenders look back (or should) at what they have accomplished to date; whether they have met our development goals, and, at the same time, begin to set goals and training objectives for the second half season. Although the following has been taken from a business model, we think it can easily be applied to goaltending. Keep these in mind as you move forward into the New Year.

Here are a some keys to success:

1. Don't blame others for your problems. Rather, accept personal responsibility and move forward correcting the things that are within your control and accepting those that are not

2. Don't engage in endless self-analysis and always questioning your abilities and self-worth. No one every enjoyed success dwelling on negatives

3. Have written goals with deadlines and a plan of action to accomplish them. There is something magic about writing things down

4. Manage your time effectively. You only have so many hours each day to accomplish what is important to you. Don't waste time

5. Don't keep repeating the same behaviour and expecting different results

6. Take some time every day to celebrate you achievements (privately or otherwise)

7. Take the steps necessary to maintain a high level of energy - both physical and mental. Nutritious food, lots of rest, regular goaltending specific work outs & hydration

8. Don't give up to soon. Some of the world's most successful people are those who are the most persistent

The key to positive results is to know yourself. The better you know yourself; your strengths, your weaknesses, your goals, what you are learning from your experiences, the more positive your development will become.

1. I will work hard to develop my "goaltending skating" so I can move quickly & easily into position in time to stop every shot2. I will give my best in every game and never leave any game wishing I had worked harder 3. I will build my mental toughness so I do not get discourages by bad goals 4. I will improve my practice habits. My play in games will mirror how I practice and I will develop my best game habits in practice5. I will accept responsibility for my play - good or bad6. I will not lay blame with my team mates for goals that are scored even if they made the mistake7. I will be a student of the game and always look to improve & work hard to develop my goaltending skills8. I will be disciplined both on & off the ice and maintain emotional control at all times9. I will practice good pre-game preparation so when I step on the ice, I am ready to compete10. I will compete for every puck and never give up on a shot, no matter how impossible it might seem to stop it

In our last blog we talked brought up the topic of "net presence" and the impressions goaltenders give by their on ice demeanour. And we offered up a couple to tips as to how you might check on your own "net presence".

Today we are going to take a quick look at how to differentiate yourself from other goaltenders in your league/division and stand out from the crowd. Here it is worth repeating the comment often heard from recruiters and scouts...."at some point in time, they all look the same". So, here are just a couple of things that can help you not "look the same".

Become a better all round athlete - most pro goaltenders today are excellent athletes and some such as MA Fleury, Jake Allen, Jonathan Quick & Pekka Renne are exceptional. Being a better athlete will also improve your overall technical skills

Become better at puck handling - a goaltender who can handle wide rims and dump-in shots efficiently are worth their weight in gold and are a coach's dream.

Battle harder - put 100% effort into covering every loose puck; make the impossible save at least once per game

Calm & focused - remain calm and focused when confronted with adversity or when things become chaotic. No emotional ups & downs

Consistency - keep your play consistent throughout the entire game and from game to game

Frustrated when goals go in or you don't play up to your own expectations?

Here are a couple of things you might want to think about:

a. No one ever improved by "beating up themselves" internally. Negative thoughts DO NOT produce positive results. And, you are the only one who can control that "tiny, negative voice" inside your head. Every time a negative thought comes into your mind, REBOOT THE COMPUTER, and move on to something positive.

b. You will never play a "perfect" game. Your aim should be to play the best you can and help your team win, That is the bottom line. So, shift your focus away from the "you" and just do your job..stop as many pucks as you can, and continue to work to improve

c. Forget about statistics. Any coach, recruiter or scout worth his/her salt will tell you that statistics (especially goaltending statistics) never really tell the true story even at the Pro level because of the circumstances under which the goals were scored. (Quite frankly, who is going to remember that your save percentage was .914 during your last year in Bantam, High School etc. & secondly, who really cares)

d. One period, one game, one season does not define you as a goaltender. Your Hockey goaltending identity is made up of all the years you have played as you move up in age and playing level. You will not be cut from any team tryout because you had a couple of, so called, "bad games" in Pee Wee

e. Focus on the process of developing into a well rounded goaltender who has ABOVE AVERAGE TECHNICAL SKILLS, PLAYS WITH CONSISTENCY, IS MENTALLY TOUGH, BATTLES TO STOP EVERY PUCK NOT MATTER WHAT, WORKS HARD ON & OFF ICE AND HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Developing as a goaltender is a journey. It has many ups & downs. Mostly how you deal with those ups & downs will determine how far you travel

f. At the end of the day, don't be upset by the results you didn't get for the work you didn't do. IF YOU DON'T PUT IN THE TIME, DON'T EXPECT TO BE REWARDED

Beyond a certain level in hockey, all teams employ "systems". They are comprised of various defensive, attack & containment strategies designed to give one team an advantage over the other and subsequently produce a winning result. And again similar to "game plans" which we touched on last time, goaltenders have very little, if any, involvement in a team's "system".

So, does that mean that you, as a goaltender, should not have your own "system". Absolutely not.

Besides the obvious need for continuing technical and tactical skill development and improvement in areas where you have shortcomings, you really should have a systematic approach to your game outside the ice surface. Here is what we think a typical "system" might look like:

1. Stretch 6 days per week including before and after games and practices2. Use a proven pre-game preparation prior to each game3. Follow an in season off-ice training program – as prescribed by the team or a trainer/coach4. Perform relaxation techniques (deep breathing) – 10 to 15 minutes every day5. Practice mental imagery – before each game and at least two to three other time per week6. Set a goal(s) – for each game & practice7. Record practice notes (what went well, what didn't) after each practice8. Record game notes (what went well, what didn't) after each game9. Set medium and long range performance goals for your personal development

Perhaps there are some other things that could be added but these should be the very least if you are truly interested in path that leads you to play at the highest level based on your particular skill set.